HB 187 / SB 126  Florida Public Service Commission – RLC OPPOSES

Sponsors: Rep. Alex Andrade (R-2), Senator Don Gaetz (R-1)

Summary: Increases PSC from 5 to 7 Commissioners, requiring 1 to be a Certified Public Accountant and 1 as a Chartered Financial Analyst, requiring that orders issued by the commission contain adequate support and rationale for any conclusions made by the commission; requiring the commission to ensure that the allowable return on equity does not exceed the national average authorized return on equity for comparable public utilities; requiring the commission to establish a schedule by which rate change requests may be submitted to the commission by each public utility company, etc.

Opinion- while there are parts that are good, such as mandating that the “allowable return on equity does not exceed national average authorized return”(thus making a cap), this would count as an expansion of government by increasing the size of the Commission. Requiring 2 positions designated as a CPA and a CFA given the jurisdiction of the PSC is a good add on, I support that. However the PSC is the highest paid Board in the State, with each salary higher than the Governor. As well, the PSC is a Board that in many other states are elected by the people, whereas in Florida, those picked are appointed by the Governor from a list of names approved of by a Council, half picked by the Speaker and half by the Senate President. This expansion will cost $310 Thousand Plus dollars a year in salary alone. Remove the expansion of size of PSC and review other parts of bill, and this could be a good bill.

Conclusion: BAD BILL

HB 139 / SB 92  Adverse Personnel Actions and Ethics Complaints – RLC SUPPORTS

Sponsors: Rep. Patt Maney (R-4), Senator Don Gaetz (R-1)

Summary: Prohibits agencies & independent contractors from taking specified actions against employees for disclosing certain information to Commission on Ethics; requires that information disclosed include specified violations or alleged violations; requires disclosure of specified information to commission; provides that specified provisions protect employees & persons who submit written complaints to commission or provide information to investigator during investigation of complaint; etc

Opinion: This Bill essentially strengthens existing Whistleblower laws, stating that anyone working for any government entity from local up to state are protected should they report anything about anyone that can be brought up by the Florida Ethics Commission, stating the true intent of existing laws. This also does clarify the intent of a persons right to face their accuser, which also covers the “evidence” or “findings” of said claims and whatever charges against them by stating it must be provided.

Conclusion:  GOOD BILL

HB 45 / SB 212 Sexual Offenders and Sexual Predators – RLC SUPPORTS

Sponsors: Rep. Rachel Plakon (R-36), Senator Stan McClain (R-9)

Summary: Revises definitions of terms “public swimming pool” & “public pool”; defines “public bathing place”; revises residency restrictions for persons convicted of certain sexual offenses; revises requirements for search of sexual predator or sexual offender registration information by state agency or governmental subdivision before appointing or employing person to work; revises special conditions for certain sexual offenders subject to conditional release supervision; revises standard conditions of probation or community control for certain sexual offenders.

Opinion: 

Conclusion: GOOD BILL

HB 17  Criminal Offenses Against Law Enforcement Officers and Other Personnel – RLC SUPPORTS

Sponsor: Rep. Jessica Baker (R-17)

Summary: This Bill creates harsher punishment for committing acts of violence against Emergency Service Personnel. It stiffens the sentencing in crimes such as resisting arrest, Battery of an officer, man slaughter of an officer and obstruction. It extends these charges to Security officers, EMS and nursing staffs as well. This bill will all around increase the level of severity of these crimes. The Senate version of this bill is SB156 and was submitted by Senator Leek. It is the same bill.

Opinion: This bill gives much needed protection to Emergency personnel, Nurses and security staff while also adding a greater severity to the crimes of attacking or obstructing police officers.

Conclusion: GOOD BILL

HB 245  Child Pornography Terminology – RLC SUPPORTS

Sponsor: Rep. Jessica Baker (R-17)
Replaces the term “child pornography” with the term “child sexual abuse material.”

Opinion: This Bill just clarifies and codifies words and definitions to make things more concrete clear in the legal terms.

Conclusion: GOOD BILL

HB 71  Distribution of Funds to Homestead Property Owners – RLC SUPPORTS

Sponsor: Rep. Jeff Holcomb (R-53)

Summary: Creates Homestead Property Tax Relief Program within DFS; defines “eligible homesteader”; requires CFO to annually issue warrants of specified amount to certain homestead property owners beginning & ending on specified dates; requires CFO to work with county property appraisers for specified purpose; provides future repeal.

Opinion: This helps give money back to the people, though it does appear open ended and is temporary, but it does give good coverage for the CFO to work with Property Appraisers to give extra possible relief and review.

Conclusion: GOOD BILL

HB 149  Maximum Millage Rates for the 2027-2028 Fiscal Year – RLC SUPPORTS

Sponsor: Rep. Ryan Chamberlin (R-24)

Summary: Provides method for determining the maximum county & school millage rates for fiscal year 2027-2028; provides for future repeal.
Opinion: This legislation would mandate a rollback of property tax levies to the 2022-2023 levels. This rollback would deliver immediate relief (over 8 Billion) to families, homeowners, and small businesses across our state.

Conclusion: GOOD BILL

HJR 27  Term Limits for Members of Boards of County Commissioners and District School Boards – RLC SUPPORTS

Sponsor: Rep. Jeff Holcomb (R53)

Summary: Constitutional Amendment to enact term limits to 12 years for County Commissioners and School Boards. It will allow politicians to return after 4 years.

Opinion: While this will anger people by giving school board an extra 4 years, at the same time, it will knock down the BOCC from possibly 30-50 years down to 12 years. So give up 4 school board years in exchange for limiting BOCC to 12. While the RLC supports the “8 is Great” Movement, this will codify term limits for County Commission and codify School Board in the Constitution and it does work for the Term Limits Movement.

Conclusion: GOOD BILL

HB 41 / SB 88 Sales of Ammunition – RLC OPPOSES

Sponsor: Rep. Dan Daley (D-96), Senator Tina Polsky (D-30)

Summary: Requires background checks for sale or transfer of ammunition; provides exceptions.
Opinion: This bill adds the sale and transfer of ammo to the required background check bill. This bill will bog down our law enforcement agencies and slow down many other industries as well. The use of ammo in other non Firearm related industries will be severely impacted. Blank ammo is used by felons in the construction industry, in advertising industries and in the Movie industry just to name a few.

Conclusion: BAD BILL

HB 95 / SB 52  Security Services on Religious – RLC SUPPORTS

Sponsors: Rep Grow (R-23), Senator Don Gaetz (R-1)

Summary: Exempts certain persons providing voluntary armed security services at churches or ecclesiastical or denominational organizations from specified requirements; provides requirements such persons must meet to qualify for exemption.

Opinion: This allows churches to designate persons to be “Armed Security” without them having to be hired with Class D/G Armed Security Licenses. This is a good bill to allow churches to provide security without having to hire a private security company or etc to do so.

Conclusion: GOOD BILL

HB 113  Redesignations of State University and Florida College System Institution Roads – RLC OPPOSES

Sponsor: Rep. Kevin Steele (R-55)

Summary: Requires state university & FCS institution boards of trustees to redesignate specified roads or portions of roads to certain names relating to Charlie James Kirk within specified time period; requires state funds to be withheld for any university & institution that fails to redesignate road or portion of roadway within such time period.

Opinion: While I severely love this and want to honor Charlie in every way, the only thing I am worried about is setting precedent of withholding funds for a school or any “agency” for naming any item after someone and the precedent can be used by city or county agencies at any time for honoring a radical leftist. As well, should the day come the state goes democrat again, I fear the precedent being used by them as well.

Conclusion: BAD BILL DUE TO RISK OF BAD PRECEDENT

HB 133  Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer – RLC OPPOSES

Sponsor: Rep. Tyler Sirois (R-31)

Summary: Reduces minimum age at which person may purchase firearm & age of purchasers to which specified licensees are prohibited from selling or transferring firearm to 18 years old.

Opinion: This begins the process of undoing the bad parts of the Stoneman Douglas Bill and going back to the laws of pre 2018.

Conclusion: GOOD BILL